Sharing a platform at a function hosted by the prestigious Sports Journalists' Association (formerly known as the Sports Writers' Association), the two candidates for the job of Sports Minister post May 6th confirmed that a state bailout of Manchester United, Liverpool, Portsmouth or any other football club would not be contemplated.

This response provoked a wave of relief through all sections of the audience with one exception. A member of the Manchester United Supporters Trust had asked the panel to make rules to protect supporters. He appeared to agree with my assertion (an entirely personal view) that it is very difficult to see how the Herculean cashflow assumptions contained in the refinancing proposals recently issued by Manchester United can be achieved.

Don Foster of the Liberal Democrats was also on the panel. The prominent TV sports presenter John Inverdale was an excellent Chair. All three panellists gave powerful and committed pitches about the importance of sport. They acclaimed the role of sport in the development of the young, as a moulding and cohesive force in the lives of adults, and as an inspiration to community groups.

I was encouraged to attend by Rod Gilmour of the Daily Telegraph, who has been following my campaigns to save Claremont Road, the Walker Cricket Ground at Southgate, and the Sobell Centre in Finsbury Park in particular. In the context of the Sobell campaign I had been taken to Westminster on October 15th 2008 to meet Gerry Sutcliffe. At that meeting I highlighted the dreadful plans to oust Hendon FC from the municipal playing fields at Claremont Road. I railed at Barnet Council's plans to allow the tenant to sell public land and split the proceeds with the council. I emphasised that the practice of granting long term leases over public land would lead only to the loss of further community sports facilities and the plundering of the public purse.

As I listened to Mr Sutcliffe talking yesterday about the government's success in protecting playing fields and improving the quantity of sport played in schools I lost confidence in the integrity of those who must be briefing him. The shadow minister, Hugh Robertson, afterwards explained to me his tactic of not engaging in statistical arguments with the Minister since logical points then become drowned in a morass of arguments about statistical definitions. Very astute, I thought.

This concern was evident during a warm exchange between Michelle Verroenen and Gerry Sutcliffe. "When you say your target is 'a million more people playing sport, do you mean a) a million people playing sport who do not do so already or b) a million people presently playing sport undertaking more sport?" The Minister replied to the amusement of the audience "I mean a million more people playing more sport". But I took more kindly to this than others. Mr Sutcliffe seems a decent an honourable man. It is not his fault that the stats based communication methods of government are so target focussed that all meaning is lost.

I was encouraged that all three MPs pledged to do their utmost to protect Exchequer funding for sport, albeit that it was hard to hide a little suspicion - what else could they say?

My primary worry developed as the debate moved away from youth sport and on to Olympics 2012 and premier league football. I draw a fundamental line between promoting sport in the community and sport as high level entertainment. When I draw up my list of sports facilities in London I ignore White Hart Lane, Emirates and Stamford Bridge. These are theatres, not sports facilities, and these businesses should in my view be more or less ignored by government.

My concerns grew as all three panellists praised the contributions to community sport of many premier league clubs. I am not so sure about their facts. I remember in particular the distinguished and long serving Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn's briefing to me in the context of saving the Sobell centre; Arsenal have done little to ensure that the Emirates section 106 money (a financial pledge extracted from Arsenal in return for the granting of planning permission) will actually be converted into a community sports facility or somehow washed away into a general leisure pot held by Islington Council. So strong was the praise for the elite football teams that I was pleased to catch Inverdale's eye and managed to ask the direct question about possible state bailouts. I am delighted to report to the readers of the Hendon Times that the panel was unanimous - an unequivocal "no way" resonated around the room.

Can I invite you to urge all canvassing politicians to recognise the consequence of this policy. Government should keep out of elite sport and focus on community sport. Barnet needs a new community sport centre. Copthall could be regenerated with free money. Let's campaign for that!